An impressive score of 216 secured the first place spot of the Custom Made Dunit Non Pro Futurity at the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity for Gina Schumacher and Reining Royalty, crowning them the Non Pro Futurity Champion. Bred by Michelle Anne Kimball, the stallion by Spooks Gotta Whiz and out of Bella Della has only been in the pen with Schumacher once before their run inside the historic Hardy Murphy Coliseum.
“He has so much personality, and he’s so playful,” Schumacher said as she laughed and pulled her reins away from the stallion’s mouth. “He takes everything and puts it in his mouth.”
This win earned the pair $8,151 and a special prize for the owner of the stallion’s sire- a custom SWRHA golf cart.
Schumacher thanked her fiance, her groom, and her trainer, Duane Latimer.
Custom Made Dunit Non Pro Level 3 & Level 2 Champion – Kelsey Price & Bringing Chexy Back
Aboard a horse she selected from the pasture as a yearling, Kelsey Price won the Level 2 and Level 3 and placed reserve in the Level 4 at the Custom Made Dunit Non Pro Futurity at the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity with a score of 214.
Price rode Bringing Chexy Back, a mare by A Sparkling Vintage and out of Chexanicki, bred by Toyon Ranch LLC. The mare is owned by Kelsey and her husband, Kole.
“I was ecstatic when we got to purchase her as a yearling,” said Price. “She has a lot of presence in the pen, she’s been consistent, and she’s been fun.”
Although their earnings of just over $11,000 at the SWRHA Futurity are nothing to balk at, Price highlighted the importance of understanding that each time in the pen is a chance to learn your horse better. She shared that she knew she had lots of homework to do with this mare before heading to their ultimate goal of winning the NRHA Non Pro Futurity in Oklahoma City.
Price thanked her husband for being her biggest supporter, her friends for coming to support her, and their team of grooms, veterinarians, and farriers.
Custom Made Dunit Non Pro Level 1 Champion – Lindsay Kovick & Shezinmypocket
With runs that showcased both finesse and passion, Lindsay Kovick rode both her mares entered in the Custom Made Dunit Non Pro at the SWRHA Futurity to spots in the top 15 of each Non Pro level.
Aboard Shezinmypocket, Kovick scored a 212, winning the Level 1, and taking reserve in the Levels 2 and 3. With this mare, her earnings at the SWRHA Futurity total over $8,000. A beautiful bay by In Like Flinn and out of A Smart Gun, the mare was bred by Barbi Boyle and is owned by Sue Barker.
“I generally ride most of my two-year-olds myself, but I only bought this mare in June,” said Kovick. “Three-year-olds are different every time you go in the pen, and I’ve taken her in once, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but she was really fabulous.”
The SWRHA Futurity went spectacularly well for Kovick. In addition to Shezinmypocket, she rode SS Eyez On The Prize, by SG Frozen Enterprize and out of Cremes Chic Olena, and won an additional nearly $4,000. This rounds out Kovick’s total earnings for the event to just over $12,000.
Kovick thanked Barker for allowing her the opportunity to ride Shezinmypocket, Boyle for breeding her, and Yonathan Baruch and team for their work helping her prepare these mares.
Custom Made Dunit Non Pro Prime Time Champion – David Silva Sr. & Working For A Shiner
It was an unexpected win in the pen when David Silva Sr. and Working For A Shiner finished as the Custom Made Dunit Non Pro Prime Time Champions at the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity.
“It’s been a long road, said Silva. “Earlier this year, I had my doubts about him, but he’s got so much heart and try. I’m just really looking forward to the rest of the year now.”
The stallion, a handsome palomino bred by Silva, is by Smart And Shiney and out of Reminic At Work. The Prime Time win, along with placings in the other levels, earned the team just over $3,000.
Silva thanked Pierre-Luc Phaneuf and Cade McCutcheon for their dedication to these horses.
“This is not for the weak-hearted, this is a hard thing to accomplish- riding these horses as three-year-olds,” said Silva. “You need a good team and a good-minded horse to get here.”
SWRHA Recognizes Stallion Power with Sire Awards
The funds for much of the added money in the Custom Made Dunit Non Pro and Billingsley Ford Open Futurities come from the annual Stallion Auction, held January 15 – February 15. Participating makes stallion owners eligible for special sire awards.
A custom SWRHA Association Golf Cart goes to the sire of the Level 4 Non Pro champion . This year the winner of the Golf cart is Spooks Gotta Whiz, Sire of the Non Pro Champion Reining Royalty. Reining Royalty was ridden by Gina Marie Schumacher.
The level 1-3 sires receive custom belt buckles. A Sparkling Vintage, owned by Silver Spurs Equine, was the sire of the Level 3 and Level 2 Champion Bringing Chexy Back, ridden by Kelsey Price.
The Level 1 Champion Sire buckle went to In Like Flinn the sire of Shezinmypocket, ridden by Lindsay Kovick. In Like Flinn is owned by In Like Flinn Holdings.
Salute to the Sires Exhibitor Party
The excitement of the Custom Made Dunit Non Pro Futurity at the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity continued into Friday evening, with the Salute to the SWRHA Sires Exhibitor Party. The party featured the SWRHA Stallion Auction Golf Cart Giveaway and Pinnacle Equine (Dr. Chelsea Makloski) Embryo Transfer Auction.
Stallion owners who donated a breeding, and had it purchased, were entered into the giveaway for a golf cart in an effort from the SWRHA to recognize the outstanding stallions of the association and the vital role they play in the industry.
With much anticipation, George Bell, the owner of Mr Royal Hollywood was selected to win the golf cart.
“We donate a breeding to the Stallion Auction because it lets us put money towards the Futurity and have a nice, big show that brings in people from all over,” said Brian Bell.
Dr. Chelsea Makloski of Pinnacle Equine also donated an Embryo Transfer Package for auction, the proceeds of which benefit the SWRHA.
Mindy Gray won the auction with a bid of $4,700 after a bidding war that had everyone on the edge of their seats.